UFC

Floyd Mayweather's protege is gunnin' for the Octagon, too -- and if he gets the chance to cross over, he says he'll beat ANY UFC FIGHTER in his division.

Boxing star Gervonta "Tank" Davis -- the co-headliner for Mayweather vs. McGregor -- has been going back-and-forth with a bunch of UFC guys on social media ... after hinting he'd be down for an MMA fight like his mentor.

We caught up with Tank to see if he's really down -- and he let us know what's up.

"If the opportunity's up for grabs then I'm definitely willing to fight any one of them guys near my weight class," Davis told TMZ Sports. "Dana White, I'm waiting on your call, baby."

FYI, Gervonta fights at 130 pounds -- around the same weight as killers like Demetrious Johnson, Cody Garbrandt and T.J. Dillashaw.

As for Floyd -- Tank told us why he thinks a Conor rematch could be in the cards ...

Floyd Mayweather says he's DEAD SERIOUS about taking an MMA fight -- confirms he'll start training with Tyron Woodley -- and breaks down his wrestling and kicking skills.

THIS CLIP IS AWESOME!!!!!

Floyd was leaving Katana in L.A. with his TMT crew on Wednesday when he opened up about EVERYTHING ... and admits gearing up for the octagon is "probably gonna be a little difficult."

As we previously reported on "The Hollywood Beatdown," Mayweather and UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley have agreed to train together ... and Floyd thinks he can REALLY elevate his ground game.

"I can wrestle," Floyd says ... "My wrestling game is not that bad. On a scale of 1 to 10, it's probably a 7 and I think we could take it up to like a 9."

Floyd also breaks down his kicking game -- and explains why he scores himself a 4 out out 10.

So, how much MONEY will it take to lock Floyd for an MMA fight, possibly with Conor McGregor?

"It's all about presenting the right numbers and of course, they gonna present the right numbers and we gonna make it happen."

Things got a little TOO real on Mike Tyson's movie set -- when the 51-year-old accidentally socked UFC star Fabricio Werdum with an actual punch ... and almost shattered his nose!

Mike and Werdum were shooting a fight scene for Jean-Claude Van Damme's new "Kickboxer: Retaliation" when Mike miscalculated ... and REALLY punched Werdum.

"Accident, but he punched me," Werdum tells TMZ Sports ... "almost broke my nose."

Werdum says the punch almost knocked him down -- but he let it slide because Mike was a super nice guy on set.

"It's good 'cause he's Mike Tyson!!"

If ya wanna see Werdum throw hands for real, he's fighting at UFC Fight Night: London this Saturday ... taking on Alexander Volkov in the main event.

Fabricio says he's getting his belt back after the Volkov fight -- but does he think he's gonna take on Stipe Miocic or Daniel Cormier??

We asked. Werdum answered.

The Miz has had a change of heart about CM Punk's UFC career -- now, he's SUPPORTING the guy ... despite mocking Punk after his brutal debut loss back in 2016.

Remember, the DAY after Punk lost to Mickey Gall at UFC 203 ... Miz and Dolph Ziggler spoofed the fight on "WWE Backlash."

But now with Punk returning to the Octagon at UFC 225 in June, Miz says he won't make fun of Punk anymore.

Instead, Miz says Punk should be APPLAUDED for chasing his dream ... adding, "I hope he does well."

He also says Punk doesn't give a crap about all the haters because, "if you come from WWE, you have a thick skin because you're hated on all day, every day."

The big question ... will Miz ever follow Punk's footsteps and take a real MMA fight, too?

Don't laugh off Conor McGregor hitting the campaign trail -- 'cause one of the most powerful members of Ireland's government says the Notorious could totally run for office!

We got Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar out at SXSW in Austin ... and he told TMZ Sports it'd be crazy to rule out the UFC megastar parlaying his popularity into a political career -- something McGregor hinted at recently.

Varadkar knows about defying the odds -- dude was Ireland's first openly gay and ethnic minority PM when he was elected in 2017, not to mention the youngest one in the country's history.

Leo also just met Arnold Schwarzenegger (which we got on video) -- and said if The Governator could do it, why not Conor??

1-handed MMA star Nick Newell says his uphill battle to make the UFC ain't unlike the one Ronda Rousey and other female badasses faced back in the day ... and he's making his case for the same outcome.

We spoke to Nick after his dominant comeback fight at LFA 35 over the weekend, and he doubled down on his pitch for a UFC fight -- telling us he's done more than enough to scrap inside the Octagon.

"I'm gonna win fights there," Newell told TMZ Sports. "I'm ready to start snappin' some necks and cashin' some checks."

But Nick, who's 14-1 after his latest win, didn't sound too confident he'd get the call -- comparing his situation to the era of women's MMA before Rousey broke through.

Of course, women are now bigger in the UFC than arguably any major pro sports org. -- so "Notorious" is hoping Dana White changes his tune.

One of the frontrunners to fight CM Punk is making his case for the big-money bout ... saying he'll make it an unforgettable scrap -- by knocking Punk the hell out!!

We spoke with MMA fighter/personality Mike "The Truth" Jackson after confirming Punk was taking a 2nd fight at UFC 225... and he dropped some real talk about why he should get to knuckle up the former WWE superstar.

"It's styles, it's personalities, it's somebody who's gonna sell the fight," Jackson told TMZ Sports. "Let's make money, Dana!"

As for the likelihood of Mike getting the call ... he says he's already chatted with a UFC matchmaker and Punk's coach, but "nothing is set in stone."

That said, they're both 0-1 and got wrecked by the same fighter in their UFC debuts (Mickey Gall) ... plus, we found video proof he can cut a promo!

Ronda Rousey has essentially announced her retirement from MMA -- even though she won't officially say the words, "I'm retired."

It all went down on the 'Ellen' show (airs Tuesday) -- when Ellen asked Ronda if she'll ever go back to the UFC.

"I don't know," Ronda said ... "I think it's just as likely as me going back to another Olympics for judo."

FYI, Rousey won a bronze medal in judo in the 2008 Summer Olympics. She began her MMA fighting career in 2010. And let's face it, she ain't going back to judo.

"No one demanded a written resignation from me for judo and I don't really think the same thing is necessary for fighting."

"I'm just doing what I enjoy and WWE is what I enjoy right now."

CM Punk is finally returning to the Octagon, TMZ Sports has confirmed -- and this time, he vows to make up for that loss against Mickey Gall.

Punk was clapping back at trolls on Twitter when he broke the news ... responding to someone who asked, "When are we gonna see you cry again in the octagon?"

Punk's response ... "June nine, after I win and lock eyes with my beautiful wife, embrace my coaches and shout out my entire team."

June 9 is UFC 225 in Chicago -- Punk's hometown. For now, there's no word on who his opponent will be.

Punk hasn't fought since UFC 203 back in Sept. 2016 when he suffered a brutal submission loss in the 1st round to Gall.

Conor McGregor's a living legend to his Irish fans ... but Ireland's 2nd biggest UFC star says he is NOT cut out for a political career back home.

We asked "Irish" Joe Duffy about McGregor pulling a Trump when his fighting days are done -- something Conor teased when we got him out in NYC last month.

Joe -- who fought and beat Conor back in the day -- was super complimentary of McGregor as a fighter, but told us why a run for office wouldn't end well for him.

"In Ireland, people are quite humble," Duffy told TMZ Sports, "Cockiness isn't a trait they generally take to."

Joe also told us he couldn't see Conor campaigning for a fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov -- the scariest dude in their division right now ... and he made some pretty good points.

Duffy ain't the only one who feels that way ... lightweight contender Justin Gaethje basically sang the same tune when we spoke to him recently.

Take a step back, Ronda Rousey haters -- Diamond Dallas Page says Rowdy's gonna be just fine ... even though her mic work for WWE's been sorta shaky thus far.

"Give the girl a break, man," DDP told TMZ Sports. "It's a lot of pressure going in, but that girl thrives on pressure."

DDP would know -- the pro wrestling legend says he faced the same acting issues coming into the biz ... but eventually settled in, just like he thinks Ronda will once she gets some more reps under her belt.

Of course, some athletes are born entertainers ... and DDP says Ronda's ex-UFC bro, Conor McGregor, definitely has that gift.

"If anyone really gets the showmanship, it's McGregor."

But, will WWE fans ever get to hear Conor slay the mic inside the squared circle? DDP ain't so sure about that ...

MMA's 1-handed killer is BACK -- and this time, he says he ain't stopping til he gets to the UFC.

We spoke with former XFC lightweight champ Nick Newell -- who retired back in 2015 -- before he returns to the cage Friday night at LFA 35 ... and when we asked if UFC was still the goal, he didn't mince words.

Specifically, Nick fired back at Dana White -- who previously said it was "craziness" to fight with 1 fist.

"I am crazy ... and I'll wipe out that (UFC lightweight) division," Newell told TMZ Sports.

"Gimme the opportunity, send me over the papers, and it's gonna happen."

Nick's always been gunnin' for the big show ... and with other 1-handed athletes like NFL prospect Shaquem Griffin showing out right now, he says there's never been a better time for him to make his case.

Floyd Mayweather will start his MMA training with a bona fide UFC champ -- with Tyron Woodley saying he's spoken with TBE and has agreed to get him ready for his debut in the ocatgon.

"Floyd Mayweather is interested in taking an MMA bout, maybe a few of 'em," Woodley said on "The Hollywood Beatdown."

"So, who better than The Chosen One to teach him the ropes on how we get off the ropes and get in the cage!"

Tyron and Floyd have been friendly for a while -- and when the two connected in L.A. during NBA All-Star weekend, Tyron says they decided to work together to get Floyd MMA-ready.

By the way, Tyron says Floyd can ABSOLUTELY WIN -- even if his opponent is Conor McGregor -- and he's got a real game plan to help Mayweather get that W.

There's more ... Tyron also weighs in on Canelo Alvarez's PED excuse (Mexican cow meat) and claps back at rapper Tekashi69.

Welp, that didn't take long -- Conor McGregor just fired back at 50 Cent for claiming black people have "superior genes" ... saying the rap star should pull out his old-man boobs to celebrate women's day.

"Get your tits out for the lads, ladies," McGregor said in a social media rant ... which he attached to a picture of a shirtless 50.

"I am made of granite. You need a bra."

Conor also told 50 to "f**k off" ... 'cause he's a 50-year-old fool (he's actually 42) who needs to stay in his lane.

Surprisingly, Conor also worked in a semi-compliment with his shots -- saying they still bump his old hits in Ireland ... and claiming he rocked out to one before UFC 205.

Jon Jones isn't gonna let the whole potential loss of his UFC career thing get him down ... and he's proving it -- raging onstage with Steve Aoki in New Mexico!!

It was just last week that Jones got his fighting license revoked by the California Athletic Commission, and the speculation is USADA could hit him with a multi-year ban.

Jon put his blues aside on Monday night, hitting up Aoki's Kolony Tour when it came through Albuquerque ... going shirtless and hopping onstage with Steve (who's kinda shredded).

Not sure what it means that Jon's partying -- his USADA hearing's upcoming -- but before you drill him for being out, check out what he did for a kid in the audience!

Savvy, Jon.

Arianny Celeste LOVES Floyd Mayweather -- and not just for his ass-kickin' abilities!

We got the UFC's baddest Octagon girl up in the Bev Hills, and hit her with some questions on the UFC rematch that's got everyone talking -- Floyd vs. Conor 2.

Going off her answers ... it's safe to say Arianny's on The Money Team!!

-- Would you wanna see Floyd in the UFC? "I'd love to see that happen."

-- Could Floyd beat Conor? "I'd give him a chance, yeah."

-- And the big one ... Who's hotter? "I'd have to go with Floyd ... Floyd's swag is on another level."

Celeste even let it slip that she'd be rooting for TBE -- even though he's the outsider.

If this won't motivate Floyd to step inside the Octagon ... we don't know what will.